Bartoli into Wimbledon semi as she ends Stephens' teen dream on Court One

Marion Bartoli took her place in the semi-finals of the tournament its greatest stars have vacated. But she did not win the hearts of the crowd here on Tuesday after her 6-4, 7-5 victory.

It was her Gallic shrug and plaintive look at the grey sky above Court No 1 as the first spots of rain fell that brought the opprobrium upon her. The match was finely balanced: she was 5-4 up and at deuce as she sought to break Sloane Stephens to claim the first set.

Did she not want to go off only for Stephens to have to come back and serve cold? The umpire initially told her the rain was not heavy enough to call a lull. But the referee then went on, the rain fell harder and her wish was granted.

On she goes: Marion Bartoli celebrates her victory over Sloane Stephens

Put it there: Bartoli shakes hands with Stephens

Ultimately, it was the only possible
decision — the rain break lasted two-and-a-half hours. But her
precipitate agitating seemed to amount to gamesmanship — or shrewdness,
if you’re feeling more indulgent — and she was booed loudly for the
temerity.

‘I didn’t get why the crowd were so against me,’ she said. ‘The courts
are slippery when dry and when they are wet they are dangerous. We did
not stop for no reason.’

However, the break did work to Bartoli’s advantage. She won the set in two points.

Nor were there complaints from Stephens, the glamorous 20-year-old
American, who is dubbed by some as the next Serena Williams. ‘It started
raining so we had to stop,’ she said. ‘It’s definitely tough stopping. I
warmed up three times in the gym. But that’s how it goes sometimes.’

Power play: Bartoli gets the better of Stephens

The second set was bizarre. Neither player could serve for toffee.
Bartoli went 1-0 up before the next eight games were won against serve.
So poorly was Stephens firing that Bartoli stood not far from the
service line to receive second serves.

By the time it was 5-4 to Bartoli, Stephens had won just one point on
her serve since the rain break. ‘She is a good returner and you have to
be serving well to get your teeth into her, and my serve was not that
good,’ said Stephens with a significant degree of understatement.

End of the road: Stephens sees her Wimbledon run come to an end

But Stephens did hold her serve to make it 5-5. Then, Bartoli went 6-5
up and duly broke again to clinch the win. She still has not lost a set
in the tournament.

Bartoli, the 15th seed in a Championship that has made a mockery of
seedings, faces Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in tomorrow’s semi-final. A
second Wimbledon final — following her defeat by Venus Williams six
years ago — tantalises for a woman who has dropped her father Walter as
her coach, suffered ankle trouble and a virus in the last few months.